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Tobacco-Free Campus Policy
Policy Statement
Smoking and the use of tobacco products is prohibited by students, staff, faculty and visitors outside of designated smoking areas effective February 18 2018. The appropriate signage will be placed around campus to make clear where the use of tobacco products is allowed. Student organizations are prohibited from accepting money or gifts from tobacco companies and tobacco advertisements are prohibited in university-run publications and on grounds or facilities. Any violators of this policy will face progressive disciplinary actions.
Reason for Policy/Purpose
The 2006 and 2010 U.S. Surgeon General’s Reports have concluded that secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke, and that any exposure to tobacco smoke, even an occasional cigarette or exposure to secondhand smoke, is harmful. Additionally, in 2010 the WHO published a report on secondhand smoke that found that more than 600,000 deaths per year worldwide, more than 1 percent of all deaths, are caused by secondhand smoke. As an educational institution, the American University in Cairo is committed to creating a tobacco-free environment on campus to respect the rights of non-smokers and protect the wellbeing of students, faculty, staff and visitors. Lastly, the 2007 Egyptian Law No.154, Article 2, prohibits smoking at any “health or educational facility,” and therefore this policy is designed to bring AUC into closer compliance with Egyptian law.
Who Approved This Policy
Mr. Brian MacDougall, executive vice president for administration and finance, January 24, 2018
Mr. Mohamed Ebeid, executive director for safety and security, January 24, 2018
Committee for a Tobacco-Free AUC composed of AUC Community representatives, January 24, 2018
Who Needs to Know This Policy
AUC students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Web Address for this Policy
https://www.aucegypt.edu/about/university-policies
Contacts
Responsible University Official: Executive Director for Safety and Security Responsible University Office: Office of Safety and Security
The American University in Cairo
Page 2 Resources for students: Student Wellbeing Office
If you have any questions on the policy or procedure for the Tobacco-Free Campus Policy, you may:
1. Call Gen. Mohamed Ebeid at ext. 2213, or 2. Send an email to [email protected]
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Definitions
Term (alphabetical order) Definition as it relates to this policy
Smoking The burning of any tobacco product, or the use of an electronic device to simulate the experience of smoking, having a cartridge with a heater that vaporizes liquid nicotine instead of burning tobacco. Examples of such devices are: e-cigarette, e-shisha, etc.
Tobacco product Including but not limited to: any product containing, made, or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed or ingested by any other means, or any component part or accessory of a tobacco product, including but not limited to cigarettes; cigars; little cigars; cheroots; stogies; periques;
granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed, and other smoking tobacco; snuff ; snuff flour; Cavendish; plug and twist tobacco;
fine-cut and other chewing tobacco; shorts; refuse scraps, clippings, cutting and sweepings of tobacco, e-cigarettes, hookah; and other kinds and forms of tobacco.
Vehicle Any motorized transport including automobiles, vans, mini vans, trucks, buses, motorcycles and utility carts.
Policy/Procedures
All persons present at any time inside the pedestrian walls of AUC are prohibited from smoking or consuming any tobacco products outside of the designated smoking areas. The designated smoking areas around campus are clearly marked with signs and a perimeter that delineates exactly where the use of tobacco products is permitted. The designated smoking areas will also include receptacles for any tobacco waste products such as cigarette butts. Additionally, it is prohibited to consume tobacco within any AUC-owned vehicles on AUC property.
Universal compliance with this policy will depend upon the cooperation of all faculty, students and employees to not only comply with the policy, but also to encourage others to comply in order to promote a healthy and safe environment in which to learn, work and live. The AUC Campus Safety and Security Officers will be the main enforcement authority of this policy around campus; however, consistent and fair enforcement of this policy will require the
engagement of a diverse coalition of AUC community members including the Office of Safety and Security, the Provost, the Dean of Students, the Office of Human Resources and the University faculty.
Security personnel are authorized to check and copy IDs of whoever is violating this policy.
Refusing to submit the ID would be considered a violation of the AUC ID Card Policy and could result in suspension of access to campus.
The American University in Cairo
Page 4 In the case of a violation, the violating person will have their information taken and will be informed of the rules outlined in this policy. Should an individual continue to violate the policy they will be referred to the appropriate disciplinary authority: students will be reported to the Student Conduct Committee, staff will be reported to the Office of Human Resources and faculty will be reported to the Provost.
Student organizations are prohibited from accepting money or gifts from tobacco companies, including:
• Parties sponsored by tobacco companies or allowing tobacco companies to distribute free, reduced-price or fully-priced tobacco products (t-shirts, hats, etc.) on campus.
• All tobacco advertising, such as billboards and signs owned and used by AUC.
Tobacco advertisements are prohibited in university-run publications and on grounds or facilities owned or used by AUC. The sale or free distribution of tobacco products, including merchandise, is prohibited on campus and at all AUC events even if they take place off of AUC property.
As part of AUC’s effort to encourage the wellbeing of all students, faculty and staff, the Office of Medical Services operates a smoking cessation clinic designed to provide free assistance to any AUC community member who wishes to stop using tobacco products.
This policy represents the first of several phases AUC will work through on its way to becoming 100 percent tobacco free. Phase two will begin in September 2018 and will prohibit the use of any tobacco products within the pedestrian gates. There will be no designated smoking areas in phase two. Phase three, the final phase set to coincide with the AUC Centennial in February 2019, will ban the use of tobacco products anywhere on AUC property.
History/Revision Dates
Origination Date: February 2, 2012
Last Amended Date: January 23, 2018
Next Review Date: September 1, 2018
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